According to a report in the New York Daily News, following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, the Lakers two biggest stars, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, almost came to blows.

A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft.

Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season.